Trailer hitch



Patented Aug. 11, 1942 f The present invention is c'oncernedwith alnew" fsealingthejlocking'l means v and improved trailer hitchnand moreparticularly' l y'against allaccess.of dust thereto. 1 L

one of the typeinwhich there areltelescoping l'A furt er,obiet`of -the'inventionistoprovide Y memberswhich are locked in fixed relationwhen such. a-tra i1 er hit`c`h. in which a pair of spaced a i the trailer is drawn .by thevehicle. y if '5 guides are'eniployd betwe'e'fthe inner' and outer f It is the customary practice to employ'soni in exnl'iersV wlthz means 11' or introducinglubricant n i of coupling means betweenagmotor'vehicl between aid. gii'icles;'lV iy y f a trailer or other drawn vehiclein'wlich engohiect t the .invention is to pro-y 1 f is made for initially coupling `they twogv'ehic and thereafter adjusting the coupling maintain the desired spacing -betw hicles, Itis quite common'to us efo`xj t` two telescoping 'membersy Such n 8'1"1. ngxnent C 01.1.9111?85 means? 0f V'the type described in revisioni-is niadeiorquickly attachingand hingthe trailelihitch fromthe motordriven yehici i1 j n i ther'bjec't, er the invention is toprovme` has theadvantage ofjproviding lafrelativfely conil, Y 1, adiustablerneans for coupling the ,hitch to a. 4pact construction.which*ismereasilyvjrrianlmi"15trailergv 1 L, if lated. Inprior trailer .hitche'sof ,this tyhehow-j ,f'Othea 1Objects ii'the present Vinvention will be A e'ver,- theprocess'of a'ctifxallvccupli xigthetrailerl e apparent fram the'jcox'iside'ration of the-accom-v f to the motor drivenvehicle.Jima;lidl'ily compil` panyingl'specli lcation, clairnsyand drawing,.of y I r n cated. In'some cases,* more than-"oneifastening v v v a means was employed between-the Atwoftelescoping" y"anelevational vi aw, vc 1ithportions membersso'thatga pluralityoiastening;operar in-setiongofmy improved trailer hitch; 1 l I=tions were necessaryfeach being acccmpanigad y Figure 2`is ,.a vertical" sectional view off-the a certain amount of adius 'nient-'otthelrelativef iock'ing'meains /employed in locking the twotele-e 4 position-ot the twofveliicles'.v 'In sgarne'fcasesan?A scraping'niembersitogethergg-i o excessive Yamount ofmanipulatlonfoithe,motor.25; "Lligur'e f3`is a" vertical sectional view iithe` driven vehicle or the Vtrailer was nec'ess` ary..: ;in 'el` f novel meansfor coupling the hitch to the motor these trailers are often coupled while'jloaded; itfis Q difivenlvehicle; v almost impossible'tomanipulatez't'hetra'iler by? jFi'gurefQ is a'ftcp p1an view, p'artlyfin section, hand so that. it becomes necessaryto`- adjustthe of aportionoi the coupling means showninFlg-f position ofthe motor driven'vehicle. Further- 30 ure 3 f more, almost all of theJprior devices"`of` this'type e Figure '5lisa longitudinal elevational ,views withv j have been characterizedby the absence of means portions brokenaway oiga modifledformfof the for preventing dust` entering between the teletrailerlhitchQ-,and j.. scoping members'.v It will-be quiteobvious that l ligurey isaftopplan View of a modmed M i Where the' trailer iS v11Std 1I1 "a8rl11tura1j 60111-5A 35-offmeans forconnectingthe hitch to the trailer. munities or on gravel roads, thes e,trai lers operatev Referringspecically'to'the drawing, the trailer inV an almost constant cloud'oi dust'i-aised by the hitchf` generally comprises an outer cylindrical` t' motor driven vehicle ahead. The result isthat pipel lj and inner pipe l2, the two pipes'being the majority of the hitches `of vthetgirpe using Iteleg in telescipirig relation'. 'The outer diameter for scoping'members soon acquiresc niuz'zhdust hej- 40- the inner pipe 'l2is slig'ht ly less than that: of! v tween the members that relative `movementv 9i pipe Vs'o as to permit'pipejl-Z to slide freely withthe members becomes verydimcult. This` further in pipe 1 I. Rattlingis prevented by a guide collar'` adds tothe dilculty ufY thecoupling operation. I3 secured within the rright hand end oi [pipe Il 'An object of the present invention is to proa and snugly engaging pipe l2 '.(as best' shown 1n vide a trailer hith'of thetype usingtelescoping 45 Figure 2l .and apluralityof` inwardly directed members whereinprovision ismadefforprotect#` D projections 8 extending from theiinner suriace ing the `couplingy against theaccess of-fdustf'and 1 oiplpeil andjsnugly engaging pipe l2.V ,The o uter other foreign matter. lS`=,1i!;JI ,1--'I Lin the modification shownilll 1I? A further object-o1 the'presnt invention isy to 1 'izthone whichis. connectedto the motoi'lfdrlvea provide'such atrailer hitch c'onstructionin which 50 vehii'rlgfild 'thQImCI SQGOD- l2 is'connectd 9 f the two telescoping members arenormallyloclxed 1711.'t`1'ai1e1j. f in a positionin which anend ofoneofthe mem+ 'Af'coupling-member I4 is secured -overthe right e bers engages a shoulder on theother meunier',y 1 handi end of, the pipeV I z@ bya rivet. 2z or dthgr ,A1 further object ofthe inventionis tdplovide i Suitable A1158151311118` means. This coupling memn a coupling means o! the type described in which 55' ber' is'in the form of a closed cap having a' hub to the coupling I4 by means of a pin extending through the apertures I6 and held in position by a locking pin 26. It will be understood that the connection of the trailer with coupler I4 is more permanent although, of course, the coupling Vmember I4 can be removed when desired. A

grease nipple 2| is provided to lubricate the pin extending through aperture I6. In the form shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that the coupling |4 has substantially the same external diameter as the outer member II so that` when member II is in engagement therewith, a rela'l tively smooth outer surface is provided at the joint.

Coupling member II is connected by connecting means 23, to be described later, to the bumper 25 of a motor driven vehicle 26. The coupling means 23 is of such nature as to'be quickly detachable and attachable and to permit free angular vmovement between the connected members to a limited extent.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that a pair of apertures 30 and 3| extend through the outer pipe II. A corresponding pair of apertures '33 and 34 vextend through the inner pipe I2. When'the outer pipe I I is in engagement with the shoulder of coupling member I4, the lapertures 30 and 3| are aligned with the apertures 33 and 34 to receive a coupling pin 36. This coupling pin is in the form of a straight rodwhich is bent at its upper end to form an' eye 31 for-withdrawing the pin from the apertures 3|, 33, and 34 in order to permit uncoupling of the members I| and I2.

While it is old to employ coupling pins betweentwo interfitting members, I employ a novel -means for preventing the access of dust to the telescoping surfaces of the two members. Surrounding the intermediate portion of the coupling pin 36 is a sleeve 39, the lower end ofwhich is welded, as at 46, to the outer pipe II.' The sleeve 39 is secured to pipe II coaxially of apertures 30 and 3|. The upper end "of sleeve 39 is 39 and cap 42 against the access of dust and other foreign material. This insures that spring 44 will always be permitted to move freely and that no dust can get between the telescoping surfaces II and I2 to hinder their relative movement.

The sleeve I3 further serves to insure against the entrance of dust. As was previously pointed out, the members are locked in position when the right hand. end of the outer pipe II is in engagement with the coupling I4.l By providing an inner sleeve I3 which snugly engages pipe I2 and is sealed to pipe II, the entrance of dust between pipes II and-I2 is further hindered. A

. By providing an outer member of slightly larger diameter than the inner member, the two mem-'- bers being separated except by guides 9 and I3,

, andvby'providing means for introducing grease Welded to the outer pipe II and projecting from the inner surface thereof is a lug 53 of rectangular cross section. This lug 53 is of approximately the same width as the slot 52 and is freely slidable therein. Prior to assembly of the hitch, the outer member is provided with a slot at the desired location of lug 53, this slot being of the same size and configuration as lug 53. The two members I I and I2 are then assembled and y`adjusted until 'the slot in outer member II is adjacent slot 52. Lug 53 is then inserted in the slot of member II so as to project in slot 52 and is welded to member II as shown. By placing threaded to receive a screw threaded cap member 42. A lock nut 43 is provided to lock lthe cap member 42 in position. A spring 44 is interposed between the cap member 42 yand a p in 45 extending through the coupling pin 36. It will be obvious that this spring 44 biases the coupling pin 36 downwardly into ,the apertures30 to 34. The pin is withdrawn from the apertures by pulling en the eye 31. The spring permits the pin 36 to be withdrawn until it clears the opening 33. The amount of movement permitted by spring 44 can be adjusted by adjusting the' position of cap 42. The lock nut 43 serves to hold the cap 42 in the adjusted position. When pin 36 has been withdrawn, to clearthe' outer opening 33, it will be obvious that the two members II andv I2 can b e movedapart; Y Y

' Limiting the biasing actionk of spring 44 and acting as a sealing means is a circular disks" which is rigidly secured, as at 48,1by welding or some similar method to the coupling pin 36. When the coupling pin is in its normal operative position ,as shownv in Figure 2, the vspringI 44 urges the 'disk 41 firmly down into engagement with the top of the screwv threadedcap 42A.v The disk 41 not onlyv serves to limit the'downward movement'of the coupling pin 36 .but also `serves effectively to seal the'l housing formed by sleeve the slot 52 in the inner pipe I2l an'd by providing the lug 53 which projects from the inner surface of pipe I I, the guiding action between ypipes II and |2 is accomplished without providing an aperture through the pipes by which dust can pass from the outside in between the two telescoping surfaces thereof.

The connecting means 23 will now be described. Secured to the bumper 25 is a spherical knob 55. This knob is connected by a neck portion 56 and a shoulder portion 51 to a screw threaded shank portion'56 which extends through an aperture in thebumper bar 25.` This knob is held in place bya nut 59 threaded on theshanky portion 58. A pair of arms` 66 and 6I are pivotally secured to the pipe 63 by means of pivot pins 64and 65. As best indicated in Figure 4, in connection with pin 64, .pins 64 and'65 arefirmly secured within the inner pipe 63 and extend transversely therethrough. The arms vand 6| are provided with concave substantially hemispherical faces 61 and 68. 'I'he two members 60 and 6I may be formed by turning them outas a single unit and then cutting through the center to provide the two members. Whenthis method is followed, it is necessary to round the two ends on the right hand side oi' the pivot pin 64 to permit free relative movement ofthetwo arms. The lforwardmost outer portion of the arms 66and 6I has a cylindrical surface so that the two arms together define a substantial portionof `a cylinderof an external diameter equal to the vinternal diameter of a slidable cylindrical sleeve 65.v The pipe 63 is connected by rivets 16 .to the outer `telescoping member Il. A block 'of wood or' some suitable material of the sainel internal diameter v'as pipe 63 is interposed in the inner end ofthe pipe 63 as indicated in 11. This block of material is`to prevent any dirt from entering'min this space in the vinner pipe. Interposd between the outer spring biases 'sleeve-15 to thejzleft into a position where it surrounds the 'cylindrical portions of the two arms 60 andSi. When'the 'sleeve isin this position, the concave hemlspherical 4surfaces E1 and 58 are in engagement with the spherical knob 55 andthe coupling is engaged. `The movement of the sleeve "by the? spring 18is limited by shoulders 8l and 82 provide'dfon arms 60 and 6i respectively. l

when it is desired to detach the coupier 2s,

i' all that it is necessary todo is to move sleeve 15 to the right against the action of spring' 18, to

v proceeding forwardly.

In Figure 5,1 have mcsiraied 'a mcdinedrcrm crrrry invention. rc'rmfie simuar more pipe I I and the sleeve 15 is a coil spring l18. This the position indicated 'in dotted lines, whereupon e arms Sli and 5I can be moved to the positions in e vdicated by dotted lines. Itis not necessary to manually move these armsv `outwardly` as the spherical knob will act vas a cam surface to force them apart as the hitch is'pulledawayfrom the automobile 26. The knob 55 similarly .acts as a cam member during the coupling operation. As

long as sleeve 65 is in the position shown inisfolid.-

lines in Figure 3, however, these'arms cannot be lforced outwardly.

It is to be noted that the connection'prvided by coupler 28 is a universalfconnection providing free movement in any direction between the arms 6D and 6I and the spherical knob 55. :Attire same time, the coupler, by reason ofthe sealing plug 11, prevents any dirtfrom entering'b'etween the telescoping members II and i2.

An important featureof the presentin'vention Y is the ease by which the coupling operation can be performed. As previouslyiindicated,-`thefin 1 ner pipe I2-which is coupled to'thetrailerfby couplingmember Il is normally left permanently connected to the trailer." Whenitis'desired to r f' couple the trailer to an `automobile or Aother motor driven vehiclel the latter is backed up toap'- proximately the desired distance fromthe trailer. 'I'he pin 38 is withdrawn'by pullingY on the eye`l1.

This permits members- II fandl I2 to be moved apart to extend thecoupling.- This extension of the two members is limited by the lug 5Ien`-` gaging the left hand en d of slot 52. j The range suiiicient to take lcare of any margin of error in backing upthemotor driven vehicle so thatthe members I I and I2 can be extended sufficiently to bridge the distance between the' trailer` and the' motor driven vehicle. YSleeve 15 is 'then with` drawn,the arms 60 and .being moved forwardly over the knob The sleeve 15 'is then allowed to spring forward under the vaction of' spring 18. The coupler '25 is now firmly secured.4 All that the operator of the vehicle nowhas to do is to get into his vehicle and back ythe vehicle Auntil the right hand end ofpipe II -engages thc shoulder Il at which time pin 36 will Vsnap'into the now aligned apertures lil toll.. The coupler is now engaged and the operator can proceed to species of Figures llto 4 except ythat the outerpipe is secured to the coupling member l! an'dby this s coupling member* to the trailerx whiler the inner e.

pipe is nie one which is secured te the bumper 2s by means ofthe coupler. For convenience of comparison, theouter pipe is designated by, the 1 V'reference numeral iliand the inner-pipe by the referencenumeral H2. `Sixlnilarly,the internal sleeve-.is designated by the numeralel andthe 'projections extending `inwardly from pipe l i |.by

the numeral 109. Asin the, preferred species, "the housing 39 Y for .the coupler pin'fis located Aon the louter pipe'4 iii.v species, however, the

housingll'is'secured. at vtheforviiard end ofthe f' pipe'l i i', ratherthan at the rear end thereof.' .y In C order y:to provide af'shoulder'to engagethefpipe Iijl', acollar Ill is secured Itofthe ifi-'lier pipe-Il! hiryi, rivets iis or einer.,eirriiiar-` fastening means. The'lugql53, corresponding to lug .53--ofethe preferred species issecured tothe cuter pipe i ,and

Vprojects inwardly intotheslot |52l in the inner pipe H2. "Ihefunctionof the lug andthe slot '|52 isl the same as thatinthe preferred species.

Similarly, the function o'fv collar4 I I( in limiting the movement and determining theposition atA M A lwhic'hlthe pins Vwill V'engagetiifek apertures and also `in sealing against ythe entrance of-dustbetween .7',

pipes I'II and `I I2 is the same as` that of collar il in the preferredspecies.'`

4The arraV ement Mof n, n

simpler tofthe extent that itis not necessary to employa separate `innerpipefr63 in connectiony v2I. ,It will be noted that the; pipelIlextendsthroughcollar Ill and into the l slidable vsleeve 15, lThe spring -15 yextends around `in this species `ratherzthana special the species of Figures 1` to 4 `vandthat of withy the. coupler` Figure 5 areeuke inthe liearures by which the access of 1 dust to the -telescoplng surfaces'is prerented..` simiianyppoth cruiemare aukeinuie,

with which the coupling operation. may be g v g1g: u i In Figure 6, .Ihave showna connectingmeans f for .,coplih the-fhitchrto the trailer. This con-l dotted lines 'showings of Fiure that as theeyev belts' are screwed cutwardimthe transversehis: tance between the eyes inci'ease"s.` Thus, by ad- Justing the extent to which the eye bolts extend' into the threadedsockets'of hornsI65 and i156," the' transverse distance of the eyesis varied.` In this manner, it is possible to accommodate the coupling means to tongues 0f diierent width. Ity

drive the motori driven vehicle forwardly with the v assurance that the trailer is rmly secured to the vehicle. It is to be noted that there is no manipulation of the automobile or other motor driven vehicle necessary beyond the initiall and absolutely necessary one of backing it up to approximately the desired position and engaging the coupler'2l, then backing the vehicle up until the is to be understood that the novel `connecting means of Figure 6 can be employed with either the species of Figures 1 to 6 or that of Figure 5.

It isIso to be understood that the hitch of this invention isy applicable in coupling any drawn yvehicle togany driven vehicle.v Thus. the' term "trailer caused in the specification and claims i is to be construed as covering any drawn vehicle pin snaps into A, thealigned apertures and then Figure, A5 isfj'soinewhat' i,

connected to any driven vehicle. In` general, while I have shown certain speciflc embodiments for the purposes of illustration', it is to be understood that the invention scope of the appended claims.'

`Wh'at I claim as my invention is:

, 1. Coupling means for couplings. traQler to a motor vehicle, said couplingv means comprising two telescoping members, one adapted to be connected to a motor vehicle "and ythe othertov 'a trailer, each of said members being closed at its outer end, a shouldl` portion carried by said inner member and adaptedto form aclose ilttingabutment fo'r` the telescoping end of said outer member, saidouter and inner members'being provided with apertures which arein alignment when the telescoping end of said outer member is in engagement with said shoulder portion, La. lpin adapted to extend through said apertures, means biasing said'pin intoy said apertures, ,ay housing enclosing a portion of'said pin andsaid biasing means, and` means for sealing said housing against the entrance of foreign matter when said pin is in said apertures'.

' 2. Coupling'means for couplingatrailer to a motor: vehicle, saidy couplingmeans comprising two telescoping members; one adapted to' be connected to a' motor vehicle and the lother to a trailer, eachof said members being closed at its outer end, a shoulderportion carried by said inner member and adapted to forma closenfltting abutment for thel telescoping" endof said outer member, said outer and inner members being proislimitedjonly by the I yaaaa'resi member in dust tightrelation, means for sealing the outer end kof said housing against the entrance of dust when said pin is in said apertures, and means for limiting the movement of said two members apart and maintaining the same against relative circumferential movement, said limiting means comprising a slotted portion of saidfinner member and a portion projecting from the inner videdgwith aperturesv which are in alignment when the telescoping end of said outer member is in engagement with said shoulder portion, 'a

.pin adapted to extend'through said apertures,

means biasing'said pi intofsaid apertures, a housing enclosing a portion of said p'in'and said biasing means, means for sealing saidhousing kagainst the entrance of 'foreign matter whensa'id pin is in said apertures; and means for limiting the movement of said twov members apart, 'said limiting means comprising a slotted portionjof saidinner member and a portion projecting from the inner surface of said outer member into the slot of said inner member. Y

3. Coupling means forfc'oupling a trailer to a motor vehiclefsaidcoupling means comprising f two telescopingcylindrical members each of uniform diameter, 4one adapted to be connected toa motor vehicle and the other toa trailer, each of said members being closed Iat its outer end, a shoulder portion carried `by' said inner member and adapted to'form a close tting abutment for th'e Ytelescoping end of said'outermember, said outer and innerl members being provided with apertures which are in alignment when thetelelscoping end of said outer member is in engagement with said shoulderportion, a pin adapted toextend through said apertures, means biasing said pin into saidapertures, a housing enclosing a portion of said pin'and'said biasing means, said housing having its inner end securedto said outer surface lofv saidouter member into th'e slot of said"inner member'.-`

4. 'Coupling means for coupling a trailer to a motor vehicle, said coupling means comprising two telescoping members, one adapted to be copnected to a 'motorjvehicle andthe other to a trailer, each of said'members Abeing closed at its outer end, said outer and inner members being provided with apertures which are in alignment when the members are in predetermined longitudinally relative positionsfa linearly reciprocable pin adapted to extendthroughesaid apertures transversely of. said members, means biasing said pin into saidapertures, a tubular housing enclosing a'portion of saidpin and said biasing means', said housing having jits inner end secured tosaid vouter* member in dust tight relation, 'a washer secured rigidly to said pin and adapted to engage the outer end ofv said housing when said against the entrance of dust.

5. Coupling means for coupling atrailertoz'a V.pinis in said apertures to 4seal said outer end motor vehicle, said coupling means comprising two telescoping members, one adapted to be con-d nected toa motor vehicleand the other -to"a trailer, each of said' membersy being closed at its outer.end,a. shoulder portion carried by said inner member land adaptedto `form a close fitting abutment. for the telescoping end of saidA outer member, releasable means for locking said telescoping members in relative positions in which the telescopinglend of said outer member is in engagement with rsaidshoulder portionl so. as to hinderthe access of dust therebetweernand a dusttight housing. for said locking means.,

. lG Coupling,means 'for coupling a trailer to a, motor vehicle, said coupling means comprising two telescoping members, one adapted to be con nected to-a motor vehicle vand the other to a trailer, each' of said members being closedv at its outer end, a shoulder portion carried by said inner member and 'adapted to form a close fitting abutment'for the telescoping end of saidouter memben acollar within said outer member adja- 

